Asterix and the massive windfall

The original cover art for the classic Asterix graphic novel, Asterix and the Banquet (French title, Le Tour de Gaule) was auctioned in Paris recently, fetching a remarkable €1.4m. The illustration for the 1965 book was signed by Asterix creators Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny and had been expected to fetch around €200,000. The art for the cover of Asterix and the Chieftain’s Shield raised €1.2 million in the same sale at the Drouot auction house. The auction came ahead of the October launch of the 37th book in the series, Asterix and the Chariot Race.

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